Valve control mechanism for gyroscopic steering gear.



A `G. C, DAVISUN. Y VALVE 'CONTROL 'MEGHANISM FOR GYRQSCOPIC STEERING GEAR.

-APPCLICA'I'IOISv FILED NOV. 21, 1910: I- Patented July 30, 1 912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. o. DAWSON. VALVE CONTROL MEGHANISM FOR GYROSGOPIG STEBRING'GEAR.

APPLIATION FILED NOV. 2l, 1910. l,033,994 f Patented July 30,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVEMUH Mmmm@ tinten.,

GREGORY C. DAVISON, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE-CONTROL MEHANISM FOR GYROSCOPIC STEERING-GEAR.

Specification Letters Patent.

Patented July so, wie.

Application tiled November 21, 1910y Serial No. 593,479.

To aZZ whom, t may concern.-

Y Be t known that I, GREGORY C. DAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, and whose post-office address is care, of Electric Boat- Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, have' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Control Mechanism for Gyroscopic SteeringGeal'; and l do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear` and exact description otl the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates particularly to valve control mechanism for that type of automatic steering gear in which a gyroscope is employed in conjunction with a iiuid operated steering motor connected to the rudder or rudders and .in which a control valve for the motor is so connected to the g'yroscope that the relative movement of the gyroscope with respect to its support, due

to a deviation of the vessel from a straight course, imparts a corresponding movement to the control valve and consequently to the fluid moto andthe rudder or rudders.

The object oit' the invention is to. provide valve control mechanism which will be instantly responsive to the slightest relative movement ot the gyroscopc support with respect to the gyroscope, so that the vessel -will be kept closely to its intended course.

The particular nature ot' the invention will be understood from the following description and accon'llianying (.lrawings which describe and illustrate the preferred embodiment.

ln thc drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sec tion ot' a gyroscope and its support, together with the improved valve and valve control mechanism, Fig. i). is an elevation, partly in section, of tl 3 same parts, looking at Fig. l from the right: VFig. S is a plan view' of the same pli-ts: :ind Fig. Yl is a detail. partly iu sectiont und partly in elevation. on a larger scale. illustrating the construction ot valve and its connection to the actuating cam.

The gyroscope is here shown as of the turbinedriven type and of an improved de- Sign, but the gyroscope itself forms no part of the present invention, which may be applied lto gyroscopic steering mechanism of all types.

The flywheel 1 is mounted in the inner gimbal-ring 2, which is in turn mounted in the outer gimbal-ring 3, supported on the' bracket et. On the outer gimbal-ring, and

concentric. with its vertical axis of rotation,

is formed a bearing surt'ace 5, on which is mounted the combined bevel pinion and cam disk 6, which is pressed into frictional engagementwith the surface 5 by the coil spring 7, held down by the flanged disk 8 bolted to the outer'gimbal-ring and carry ing the ball bearings for the upper pivot On the upper surface of the member (3 is formed the actuating cam groove comprising two concentric arc-shaped groove portions 37 and 38 united at'diametri ally opposite points by the inclined groove sections S). rl`he steering motor,

which is shown as a Suitable servo-motor ot'- ordinaryatype. is represent-ed at 10, and its piston rod 11 is to be connected in the usual way with the steering rudder or rudders, This motor is mounted on the bracket 4, and its opposite ends are in communication with the valve-chamber 12 through the duct 13 which leadfl to the forward end ot' the motor cylinder, and 14 which leads to the rear end of that cylinder. Air is supplied to the valve-clnln'iber 12 through a pipe 15 connected to a nipple on the casing as shown in Fig. 3, and from the nipple the air passes .to the valve-.clmmlwr through a duct 1G,

which opens into the valve-chamber at a point between vthe openings of the ducts 13 and 14.

Sliding within the valve-chamber is a light valve-stem 17, having annular enlargements or bosses 18 and 1E), adapted, when the valve-stein is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to close the ducts 13 and 14. At each end oi the valvestem is a guiding spider 21), and the two ends of the valvechamber are open to the atmosphere so that the exhaust may'pass between the arms of the one spider or the other, as the case may be. Project-ing from the end of the valvestein is the valve-rod 21, having a turneddown end carrying a knob which lies in cam groove of the cam disk 6. L

Although the features of the present inventionA including the form of cam disk and its support, are applicable generally to the operation of eitl ,'r sliding or rotary valves, yet the sliding valve just described is admirably adapted to the intended purpose, because it is extremely light and cannot be in any way unbalanced bythe pressure, and the slightest movement from the position shown in the drawings will immediately admit pressure tiuid to one end of the motor cylinder and exhaust the other end. the quantity of fluid admitted depend- ,ing measurably upon the degree of movementofthe valve. If, for example, the relative movement of the gyr'oseope support,' with respect to the gyroscope, due to a devia tion of the vessel fromtits course, is in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the knob on the end of valve rod 21 will ride up the incline joining the groove sections 37 and 38, and the\valvestem Will be moved to thelett. The instant this movement begins, the duct t3 will begin to open', admitting pressure to the rear end of the motor cylinder, and, at the same time, and to the same extent, the duct i4 will be put into communication with the atmosphere through the right-hand end of the valvecasing, permitting the exhaust of the iorward end of the motor cylinder. lt will thus be seen' that the control is extremely delicate, and the rudders will instantly respond to any deviation from the intended course.

lt is frequently desirable, when steering mechanism ot' this character is to be used on self-propelled torpedoes or the like, to provide for wide angle tire. 'lhat is, to make provision 't'or causing the torpedo to steer through a certain arc before it assumes the intended straight line of re. For example, it may he desired to tire torpedoes from the how or stern ot a vessel, and cause them to proceed in a hroadside direction. For this purpose, with the present invention, it is only necessary to turn the. cam disk so that the inclined portion of the cam is moved away from the end of the. valve rod.

the

' The control valve will then he held in such position that thc ruddcrs will be turned to one extreme or the other, depending upon i whether the end of the valve rod is in the (itl cam groove 27, or in the cam groove `38, and the torpedo will hold a correspondingly curved course until the relative movement of the gyroscope support with respect to the gyroscope. brings the inclined portion of the groove up to the end of the valve-rod,

whereupon the valve-stem will be .quickly moved to the closing position, and beyond it, so that the rudders will be brought-,into

the central position, and thereafter the tor- A* before the torpedo is put into the tiring tube, since a hand opening is commonly rovided inthe torpedo shell to .permit ad]ust ment of the gyroscope. VIt is, however, vconvenient to provide an index spindle for the purpose. Such a' spindle is indicated at .25

on the drawings, and carries at its lower end a bevel pinion 26. Thispinion is normally'.` Y held in the elevated position shown by the coil spring 27, but may be forced down by.

hand into engagement with the teeth on the disk 6, whereupon, by Vturning the'spindle 25, the cam disk 6 mav be set to the desired position. The indexspind1e will be provided With a scale and pointer in the usua manner.

It will be understood from the foregoing that, after the gyroscope has been spun up.

and released so as to assume its normal plane of rotation, it will maintain thatplaneregardless of any deviation of the vessel from its true course, and the resulting movement between the gyroseope support, which is ab tached to the vessel, and the gyroscope, will cause the eaxn disk to turn with respect to valve rod 21. So long as the end of `the valve rod is in cam groove '37 or. 38, the valve will be held in one or the other extreme position but as soon as an inclined portion ot' the cam groove reaches the end of the valve-stem, the valve will immediately be moved to the central position, in'

which it closes the ducts 13 and 14, and slnce the inclined portion of the valve groove extends over a very small are on the disk,.the

slightest movement of the disk, with respect to its support, will instantly move the valve far enough to vsuppl motive fiuid to one side or the other of t e steering motor, rand thereby bring the vessel back into its true course.

Having thus described my invention what l claim is:

1. In gyroscopic steering mechanism. of the character described, a gyroscope com- )rising a flywheel and its supporting gimlzal-rings, a fluid-operated steering-motor, and a control valve for the motor, in combination with an actuating cam moving with the gyroscope and. having two arc shaped cam surfaces ot' ditferent radius connected b v an inclined cam surface, and a valve rod -engaging the cam alulconneeted to the control val ve.`

2. ln gyroscopic steering mechanism of' 4the character described, a gyroscope coniprising a iy-ivheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a luid-operated steering motor, and a control valve for the motor, in com bination with anf actuating cam supported on the outer gimbal-ring concentric with its axis of rotation, said cam having two arcshaped cam surfaces of different radius connected by an inclined cainsurface, and a valve rod engaging the ca'gn and connected to thejcontrol valve.

3. In gyroscopic steering mechanism of the character described, a gyroscope comprising a {ly-Wheel and its supporting gim-A bal-rings, a fluid-operated steering motor, and a control valve for the motor, in combination with an actuating cam dislr adjustably connected to said gyroscope and having two arc-shaped cani surfaces'of different/radius united at diametrica'lly oppo! site points vby inclined cam surfaces, and a valve rod engaging the cam and connected to the control valve.

'4. ln gyroscopic steering mechanism of the character described, a gyroscope comprising a fly-Wheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a fluidbperated steering motor, and a control valve for the mot-or, in combination with an actuating cam diskad-v rod engaging the cam and connected to the` control valve, and an index spindle and connections for adjusting the position of the cam disk with respect to the gyroscope.

In gyroscopic steering mechanism of the character' described, a gyroscope comprising a tiy-wheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a iiuid-operated steering motor, and a control valve for the motor, the outer gimbal-ring having a friction' surface formed thereon concentric With its axis of rotation,an actuating cam in frictional engagement With said surface and having two arc-shaped cam surfaces of different radius connected by an inclined cam surface, and a valve rod engaging the cam and connected to the control valve.

G. ln gyroscopicv steering mechanism of the character described, a gyroscope comprising a fly-Wheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a fluid-operated steering motor and a. control valve for the motor, the outer ginibal-ring having a friction surface formed thereon concentric with its axis of rotation, an actuating cam dislr in frictional engagement with said surface and having two arc-shaped cam surfaces of ditlerent radins united at diametrically Vopposite points by inclined am surfaces, and a valve rod ,engaging the cam and connected to the. control valve.

'i'. In gyroscopic steering mechanism of the character described, a gyroscope comprising a fly-Wheel and its supporting ginivbal-rings, a iuid-operated steering motor, and a control valve for the motor, the outer ,gimbahring having a friction surface formed thereon concentric With its axis of rotation, an actuating cam disk in frictional engagement with said surface and havingtwo arc-shaped cam surfaces of different radius united at diametrically opposite' points by .inclined cam surfaces, a valve rod engaging the cam and connected to the control valve; and an index spindle and connection for adjusting the position of the cam disk With respect to the gyroscope.

8. ln gyroscopic steering mechanism of the character described, a gyroscope coniprising a ily-wheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a'tiuid-operated steering motor, and a control valve for the motor, the outer gimbal-ring having a friction surface formed thereon concentric with its axis of rotation, a valve actuating member in frictional engagement with said surface, and an index spindle and connections for ladjusting the position of the valve actuating member with respect to the gyroscope. Y

9. In gyroscopic steering mechanism of the characterl described, a gyroscope comprising a fly-Wheel and its supporting gim-j bal-rings, a fluid-operated steering motor, a valve casing having a valve chamber and passage opening into said chamber and communicating with the fluid supply and with the respective sides of the steering motor, together with exhaust passages from said chamber, a sliding valve-stem Within the chamber having enlargements lying on vopposite sides of the Huid-supply opening and separating it from the exhaust passages, said enlargements being adapted in one position to close the passages to the steering motor, a valve rod connected to said stem, and connections between the valve rod and'y the gyroscope whereby relative movement of the gyroscope with respect to its support correspondingly movesthe valve rod to actuate the steering motor in one direction or the other.

10. ln gyroscopic steering mechanism of the chaacter described, a gyroscolie comprising a fly-wheel and its supporting gimbal-rings, a fluid-operated steering motor, a valve casing having a valve chamber and passages opening into said chamber and communicating with the fluid supply and With the respectiveA sides of the steering motor, together with exhaust passages from said chamber, a sliding valve stem Within the chamber having enlargements lying on opposite sides of the fluidsupply opening and separating it from the exhaust passages, said enlargements being adapted in, one position to close the passages to the steering motor, in combination with an actuating cam moving with the gyroscope and having two arc-shaped cam surfaces of different radius connected by an inclined cani surface, and a valve rod engaging the cam and connected to the valve stem.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

GREGORY C. DAVISON.

Vitnesses:

J. E. FITZGERALD, J 1'., F. L. BRAKE. 

